Lamp construction



1966 J. P. QUINN 3,263,353

LAMP CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 17, 1964 IXMENTQR Jb/M/ P Qu/A/A/ United States Patent 3,263,353 LAMP CONSTRUCTION John P. Quinn, Hashrouck Heights, NJ. (131 Woodland Ave, East Orange, NJ. 07604) Fiied Jan. 17, 1964, $22. No. 338,370 1 Qlaim. (Cl. Ml-49) This invention relates in general to lamp construction, and in particular to a new and useful lamp having a rotating shade made of a transparent or translucent material with an insert which is adapted to expand into close proximity with the interior wall thereof for the purposes of exhibiting a design or ornamentation or a photograph, and, in addition, to an improved lamp construction and mounting base for such lamp.

It has been known to provide a lamp with a lamp shade which is mounted in a position above the bulb to receive the heat therefrom and which includes means such as vanes for causing the rotation of the shade upon generation of heat by the bulb. Prior to the present invention, however, devices of this nature have been relatively expensive and require an elaborate base and a mounting for the lamp socket and supporting means for the lamp shade. In addition, the lamp shade of such devices is usually provided with a permanent picture or ornamentation, and any change of such ornamentation or picture requires replacement of the shade or the whole lamp.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an inexpensive lamp structure which includes a lamp base which is advantageously formed of a single cast or extruded part, preferably of a flexible material such as rubber, plastic and the like. The lamp base is slotted on a side to permit expansion thereof to receive a lamp socket and to permit access of its associated lamp cord. The base includes an interior projection forming a ledge for the support of the lamp base. A feature of the base construction is that leg elements or securing feet are provided which may comprise simple wire elements. Wire elements, such as pipe cleaners, have been found satisfactory. The elements are inserted into slits in the lower portion of the base. The elements extend outwardly from the base and provide either a mounting or stand for the base for positioning directly on the table, or provide securing clamps for securing the base to a structure such as the branch of a Christmas tree.

A further feature of the invention is the construction of the lamp shade which comprises a tubular member preferably mad of a translucent or transparent plastic material formed with a bead or internal lip adjacent each end for centering or retaining an insert. The insert comprises a flat strip of material such as plastic, paper, or the like, which is provided with a design, ornamentation or pictorial scene or photograph. The insert is positioned within the shade iby conforming the insert to the approximate configuration of the interior wall of the tubular shade and allowing it to expand against the wall when it is positioned inside. The structure provides a simple and inexpensive means for providing a decorative lamp shade or picture exhibiting means.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved lamp structure with a rotating lamp shade and with an improved lamp base structure,

A further object of the invention is to provide a lamp shade of tubular configuration which includes means for centering an insert therein, which insert comprises a strip or sheet of material conformed to the approximate configuration of the lamp shade and permitted to expand against the interior wall thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved lamp having a lamp base, comprising a tubular element having a slit or slot in the side thereof for permitting expansion to accommodate the socket of a lamp and its associated connecting cord and which is also provided with slits or projections for accommodating inexpensive wire supporting or securing elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide an im proved lamp shade construction with a bead formation at each end for centering an insert member which is adapted to be expanded against the interior wall.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lamp which includes a one piece tubular base structure preferably made of a resilient material and being slit along one side to permit expansion for receiving a lamp socket on one end, and further having slits at an opposite end for receiving securing leg elements, and a simple wire mounting for a rotating shade having a portion adapted to be coiled around the lamp bulb and a portion extending upwardly from the bulb for centering and rotatably supporting a lamp shade.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lamp which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claim annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded partial elevational and partial sectional view of a lamp constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the lamp shade mounting and rotatable vane element;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, on a somewhat smaller scale, of the complete lamp structure indicated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the lamp indicating it in position secured on the branch of a Christmas tree;

FIG. 7 is a plan view on a reduced scale of a lamp shade insert;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 of another embodiment of th insert; and

FIG. 9 is a transparency or picture which may be mounted on the insert indicated in FIG. 8.

Referringto the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein comprises a lamp or ornamental device comprising a base generally designated 10 which receives and supports a socket 12 having a lamp or bulb 14 which is connected to an electrical current supply through a cord 16. The bulb 14 carries a member generally designated 18 for the centering and rotational support of a lamp shade generally designated 20.

In accordance with the invention, the lamp shade 20 is provided with a bead or inner projection 22 and 24 at the top and bottom, respectively. The projections 22 and 24 provide a securing and centering means for an ornamental insert 26 and the top projection 22 also functions as a stop which permits the lamp shade 20 to be supported on a top member or rotating vane element generally designated 28.

As indicated particularly in FIG. 2., the top member or vane element 28 includes a central hub portion 28a which carries a plurality of radially extending vanes 2812 which are of a size to permit the vanes 28b to be inserted into the lamp shade 20 and to effect supporting of the hade by the vanes by the rim or bead 22 which overlaps the tips of the blade 2812.

As indicated in FIG. 3, the top member hub portion 28a is dimensioned to receive a bearing jewel 30 having a recess 30a at its underside for receiving the pointed top 'of the pivot member 18. The pivot'member 18 of the novel construction includes the elongated straight portion 18a which terminates in a point for supporting the lamp shade and a coiled or convoluted portion 1812 which is adapted to tightly embrace the lamp bulb 14 to permit the lamp shade to be rotatably supported above the bulb. The heat of the bulb causes convection flow of the air upwardly between the vanes 28:) to rotate the shade.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the lamp base is of novel construction and comprises a tubular body 10a which is advantageously slit or slotted 'at 10b to permit the base 10, which is made of a resilient material, to be expanded to receive the socket 12. The electrical wire 16 may be accommodated by withdrawing it through the slot 10b or through a slot 100 on the opposite side of the device, as indicated in FIG. 1, which only extends upwardly from the bottom to about one half the height of the base 10. The interior of the base 10 is provided with indentations or ledges 10d for supporting the bottom of the ocket 12 when the lamp is fully assembled to the base (see FIG. 4).

A further feature of the construction of the base 10 is that it has a plurality of slits 10a for receiving wire securing or supporting elements 32. The supporting elements may be inexpensive wire elements, such as pipe cleaners, which are first looped in half, the loop portion being retained within the base 10, and with each half portion extending outwardly through the slits 10c.

As indicated in FIG. 1, the elements 32 form a mounting base or stand for the upright positioning of the lamp on a support such as a table (see also FIG. 4). For this purpose the ends of the wire element 32 are advantageously coiled as at 32a.

As indicated in FIG. 6, the element 32 can be employed as securing element to secure the device to a branch of a Christmas tree 34, for example. In each instance the lamp hade may be supported above the lamp in a manner to permit its continuous rotation whenever the lamp 14 .is lit and gives off heat.

, In accordance with a still further feature of the invention, the lamp shade 20 is advantageously made of translucent or transparent material which accommodates the insert generally designated 26. In the embodiment illustrated, the lamp shade 20 i a small cylinder, and the insert 26 is advantageously a sheet of material such as paper or plastic which has a tendency to remain flat. The insert 26 is folded into the configuration of a cylinder similar to the lamp shade 20, but of slightly smaller diameter, and i inserted into an end to a position at which the upper edge aligns directly below the head 22, at which point the lower edge will be aligned adjacent the bead 24. The insert 26 may then be permitted to expand to cause it to lie in juxtaposition with the interior surface of the shade.

As indicated in FIG. 7, the insert 26 is provided with configurations such as Christmas tree ornament 38, or it may contain an image which cooperates with a similar image formed on the exterior shade 20.

In FIGS. 8 and 9 a particular useful embodiment is shown which comprises an insert 40 having an area 42 for receiving a picture, such a a photograph or transparency 44 indicated in FIG. 9. In some instances,-the area 42 is advantageously provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive for securing at least selective areas of the picture 44 in position. In still other instances, the area 42 is merely indented so that the picture or transparency 44 will remain accurately positioned.

It should also be appreciated that the insert 26 or 40 may advantageously comprise a photograph, or transparency, or such an insert may be used to trap such a photograph or transparency between the insert and the wall of the lamp shade 20. I

Thus, it can be seen that the device provides very inexpensive means for achieving unusual decorative, advertising or exhibitional effects. The base and stand are of very inexpensive construction and require a minimum or labor to assemble and hence can be manufactured at extremely low cost. Similiarly, the hade propelling fins and the bearing support for the shade may be made of inexpensive parts and simply and easily manufactured and assembled. Photographs and images which are carried by the shade will be rotated therewith and provide a very inexpensive means for exhibiting the same, permitting easy exchange of the photograph or scene for variation of effect.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

A lamp comprising a hollow tubular base member of resilient material having a slit defined along a side to permit expansion of said member for receiving .a socket of a lamp of slightly larger size, an electrical socket adapted to have a lamp positioned therein positioned in said base, said socket having an electrical cord connected which extends through the slit in aid base, a continuous single bendable wire pivot member for rotatably supporting a lamp shade, including a coiled portion adapted to be wrapped around the lamp, and a straight portion extending upwardly from the coiled portion and terminating in a point for supporting the lamp shade thereon, a lamp shade of tubular configuration, a top portion member carrying said lamp shade rotatably supported on the point of said pivot member and having fins at the periphery thereof for rotating said lamp shade in a given direction from the convection currents produced by the heat of said lamp, and a bendable combination supporting and securing element secured to the lower end of said base forming spaced leg elements for supporting said base upright and sufficiently flexible alternatively for securing said base to an object by bending the leg elements around the object, aid lamp shade including .a tubular member and an insert within said tubular member, said insert comprising a flat sheet of resilient material biased by its own resiliency against the interior wall thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,390,389 9/1921 Rosenfeld 24010 1,625,248 4/1927 Eckstein 240-521 X 1,765,940 6/1930 Rudges 2401O 1,972,687 9/1934 McCloy 24010.1 2,008,971 7/1935 Levy 240-101 2,482,656 9/ 1949 Conroy 240*521 2,726,320 12/1955 Damiano 40106.54 2,974,435 3/1961 Eschenroeder 40131 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

WENCELSO J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner. 

